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Food & Wine
Basic bread
Fresh pasta
Back to basics: How to make household staples from scratch
Master the art of making your own household basics and pantry staples from scratch.
From fresh pasta and flatbread in the kitchen to body scrub and shower cleaner in the bathroom, we’ve compiled a bunch of household staples and cleaners that you can make from scratch.
Whether it's a weekend, school holidays or a pledge to try new things, this handy guide will help build new skills and provide the satisfaction of a job well done.
How to make household staples from scratch
The basics
Basic bread
Making bread is the classic self-isolation project. This basic bread recipe comes from the friendly team at the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, so it’s a perfect project to get the little ones involved in. The buns are delicious and not difficult to make, and kids will enjoy kneading and shaping the dough. Serve them warm from the oven.
If you’re having trouble finding baker’s flour – there’s been something of a run on the stuff – try your local bakery. Some (including Wild Life in East Brunswick and Clancy’s Bakehouse in Malvern East) are selling this raw ingredient alongside their ready-to-eat offerings.
Fresh pasta
Another staple is pasta. Avoid the crowds at the supermarket and create your own pasta from scratch courtesy of this deliciously simple recipe from the RACV Club kitchen. It includes instructions for hand-made or machine method pasta.
The fun stuff
Pumpkin and goat curd ravioli
You’ve got your fresh pasta, now for an impressively easy filling. These pumpkin and goat curd ravioli are quick to make, delicious and the ideal dish for a date night in.
Vegan greens pesto
The perfect accompaniment to your fresh pasta, pesto is super easy to make at home and is a great way to use up excess greens. This vegan pesto recipe from the folks at the Queen Vic Market combines classic flavours with other vegetables you may otherwise find yourself throwing away. It's the perfect hiding place for home-grown herbs, and there are a whole bunch that grow in autumn.
Gnocchi and ragu
A good old-fashioned family recipe from the RACV Club kitchen. The gnocchi instructions come with a simple recipe for ragu to accompany the pillowy potato parcels.
Herb and garlic flatbread
These garlic and herb flatbreads are easy to make and quick – and they’re delicious as a fresh-out-of-the-pan side to a hearty curry or flavour-packed dhal.
Doughnuts with vanilla glaze
AFL games are cancelled which means no hot doughnuts from the van at the footy. But you can try making these vanilla-glazed treats. Great for a movie-night snack or after-school treat for kids learning at home.
The DIY essentials
Body scrub
Kitchen staples can be useful in the bathroom too, says environmentalist and plastics pollution educator Sarah Tait, the brains behind eco-friendly brand Wanderlightly. Give her raw sugar and coffee body scrub recipe a shot for silky-smooth, reinvigorated skin. With just three ingredients it’s super-quick to pull together, and makes beautiful use of your waste coffee grinds.
For more easy, DIY beauty recipes, here's our guide to how to get glowing skin at home.
Deodorant paste
Author of eco-friendly guide Naturally Inspired and founder of The Inspired Little Pot, Krissy Ballinger is well-versed in DIY beauty and cleaning products and suggests taking a look at what items in your personal care regime can be made from home – including this deodorant. Choose your own blend of essential oils to personalise the fragrance.
All-purpose bathroom and loo cleaner
Krissy’s all-natural shower and loo cleaner has just three ingredients and will leave your bathroom sparkling clean. Add your favourite essential oils and you can kiss scented candles goodbye.
Plus, here are some more cleaning products you can make at home.
